Newark man killed in single-vehicle crash near Odessa

A 53-year-old Newark man died Wednesday after his SUV struck a tree northeast of Odessa.

By Scott Goss

A 53-year-old Newark man died Wednesday after his SUV struck a tree northeast of Odessa.

Willis R. Townsend was driving a 2009 Jeep Wrangler south on Silver Run Road when the vehicle left the right side of the roadway and struck the tree, just south of Vance Neck Road, according to Delaware State Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Shavack.

The Jeep continued traveling south and struck a wooden post, causing the vehicle to become airborne. The vehicle eventually came to rest in a wooded area about 100 yards away, Shavack said.

The crash was discovered by a passerby about 1:20 p.m.

Townsend was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shavack said a preliminary investigation has determined Townsend was the sole occupant of the Jeep and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to have been a factor, he said, adding that the crash remains under investigation.

Silver Run Road was closed for about two hours while police investigated the crash and cleared the scene.